Planter.



J. H. MGGOY.

PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY so, 1908.

929,97 1 Patented Aug. 3, 1909. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOI? Jizmwfl (27 6 17 MAMXLS ATTORNEYS J. H. McGOY.

PLANTER.

APPLICATION. FILED JULY so, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ITNESSE A TTORNE Y S munew. a anmm co. PMOYO-LITHOGRAPI1ERS. wAsumaron.n. c.

J. H. MCCOY.

PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1908.

929371. Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOI? A TTOHNEYS mnfliw u cmmm co. PHOTO-LHHOGRAPNERS. msumsmn. u.c.

J. H. McGOY.

PLANTEE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY so, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I III IIIIII IIIIIIIII WITNESSES JAMES H. MCCOY, OF ABERDEEN, SOUTHDAKOTA.

PLANTEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

Application filed July 30, 1908. Serial No. 446,114.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. MCCOY, a l

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Aberdeen, in the countyof Brown and v State of South Dakota, have invented a new and improvedPlanter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to certain improvements in planters of thewheel-supported type, and adapted to be motor-propelled or drawn byanimals.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and economical checkrow devices of novel construction and accurate in operation and thatwill avoid the use of ropes, wires or equivalent guides; and wherein theworking mechanism includes means for effectually laying off or markingthe rows to be planted.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide suitable meanswhereby the operator will have full command of the machine in itspassage over any portion of a field.

it is another purpose of the invention to provide efficicnt means foragitating the grain in the seed boxes, and means for regulating thedischarge of seed from said boxes.

It is also a purpose of the invention to provide means for permittingthe machine to pass over obstacles in such manner that while it will beatsuch time wheel-supported, the planting and cooperating mechanism willbe elevated and supported in elevated position for the desired period.

Finally, it is a purpose of the invention to so construct a machine ofthe character described that it will be comparatively simple, reliablein operation, will avoid the waste of seeds and may also be economicallyconstructed.

I desire to be understood as not limiting myself to the particular formof marking devices illustrated, nor the special form of seedcontrollers, or the details of construction of the machine generally,since the various parts referred to may be changed as to their detailconstruction and practically the same results be obtained. Theconstruction illustrated, however, is adaptable to the prevailing typeof planter and will be reliable under all conditions of service.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts serving to produce predetermined results under predeterminedconditions, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompany in drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevation of the planter; 1 Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe planter, the marker and intermediate connections being omitted; Fig.3 is a sectional side elevation of the planter, the section being takensubstan tially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional frontelevation of the planter, taken practically on the line 44 of Fig. lFig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section, taken practically on the line5-5 of Fig. 8, and showing the right-hand seed box in side elevation andparts adjacent thereto; Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinalsection through the right-hand seed box, both boxes being of the sameconstruction, and also a section in the sociated parts of the seed box,the section being taken practically on the line 66 of Fig. 8; Fig. 7 isa detail sectional plan view, the section being taken practically on theline 7-7 of Fig. 8; Fig. 8 is a vertical section through a hopper, thesupports therefor and actuating mechanism for the seed drop slide, thesection being taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the traction elements,whereby to drive the grain-controlling mechanism and Fig. 10 is a sideelevation of the parts Shown in Fig. 9.

The frame of the machine is made in two sections, a rear section A and aforward section B, the latter being of greater width than the former, asis shown in Fig. 2. These two frame sections may be made of any suitablematerial, wood, or metal, or a combination of construction of frameshown; but said construction has been found desirable. In theconstruction illustrated, the rear frame A which is the carrying orwheel frame, is usually constructed as follows: Two side bars 10 areprovided, connected by a rear bar 11 and a forward connecting bar orplate 12, together with a longitudinal bar or beam 13, to which astandard 14, for a drivers seat 15, is secured in any approved manner.An axle 16 is journaled in suitable bearings in the side members 1 O ofthe frameAand upon this axle outside of the frame, supporting or groundwheels 17, having peripheral grooves 18, are secured. Mud scrapers 19adapted to the grooves of the wheels 17, as is shown in Fig. 2, aremounted upon a shaft 20 that turns in same direction through theimmediately aseach, and I do not confine myself to the exact a rearportion of the said frame A, as is shown in Fig. 1, and these scra ersare held in place by tensioning cords, cab es or the like, shown indotted lines and indicated by the reference numeral 21 in Fig. 1. Thesecables or other tensioning devices may be secured to the frame A or anyconvenient support, in any desired manner. VJith respect to the forwardand wider frame section B, what may be termed a rear bed plate 22 istransversely supported upon a structure comprising a po e or tongue 25,braces 26 that diverge from the forward portion, as is shown in Fig. 2and extend beneath the bed plate 22 at each side of its center,terminating in the rear of the said bed plate in vertical ears 23, as isshown in Fig. 3, which ears have vertical slots 23 formed therein; and adraft beam 27, that crosses the tongue or pole 25 forward of the braces26, as is shown in Fig. 2. A pivotal and vertically-adjustableconnection is made between the two frame sections A and B, through themedium of a shaft 24 that loosely passes through the slots 23 in theears 23 and is ournaled in the forward end portions of the side bars 10of the rear frame section A. The bed plate 22 supports two seed boxes C,one near each end, and these seed boxes are of peculiar yet likeconstruc tion, as will be hereinafter particularly described. The seedboxes U are provided with preferably hinged covers 29, and a shaft 28 ispassed through the upper and central end portion of the seed boxes,being suitably mounted to turn therein.

The forward section B of the frame is adapted to be raised and loweredbodily, at such time carrying all the working parts connected therewithfrom contact with the ground, and when a movement in this direction ismade, the forward frame may be held elevated as long as desired. At suchtime, the machine is supported by the rear wheels 17 and the pole ortongue 25, which, as customary, merely serves as a guide for themachine, the forward end of the tongue being held up by the neck yokethat is connected with the collars of the harness in the customarymanner. When a team is employed, it draws the machine by being harnessedto a suitable draft tree attached to the draft beam 27 by a suitable pin35, indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The raising and lowering of the forward frame section is by preferenceaccomplished as follows: A shaft 30 is journaled in suitable bearings inthe side members 10 of the rear frame, as is best shown in Fig. 2, andupon said shaft within said frame, two drums 31 are secured, each havingattached thereto one end of a chain or cable 32, the other ends of saidchains being attached to the lower ortions of the ears 23, by means ofsuitab e apertured lugs 33, as is shown in Fig. 3. The actual raisingand lowering of the forward frame is performed through the medium of alever 36 secured to the shaft 30 within convenient reach of the driversseat 15, and which operates in connection with a rack 34, secured to thecross bar or plate 12 and whose teeth are engaged by a thumb latch 37carried by the lever, in. order that the said forward frame section maybe held elevated or be allowed to drop. When the front frame section israised by the said lever and chains, it is absolutely clear of theground, being supported at one end by the rear wheels 17 and at theother end by the horse collars, neck-yoke and pole.

An adjustment wheel 38, with apertures or recesses 41 through the toporouter surface of the felly, is tightly secured upon the shaft 28passing through the seed boxes, said wheel being at one side of thecenter of the machine, as shown in Fig. 4, and at the opposite side ofthe center upon the same shaft, an escapement wheel 39 is tightlysecured, and is shown as provided with three peripheral fingers 39 atequal distances apart when used as a check-rower the num ber of thesefingers 39 must be three permanent fingers and no more and no less, butwhen used as a drill the number of fingers 39 is immaterial, and byproper construc tion of the wheel 39 the number of fingers 39 may beincreased to any number to suit the desired distance apart of the hillsof grain to be deposited in the drilled rows. At each outer end of theshaft 28 and beyond the outer side of each seed box C a hill marker inthe form of a wheel D is secured. These wheels D are securely andtightly fastened upon the shaft 28, and spokes 40 extend from the hub tothe felly, and at the outer face of the felly of each wheel D threeoutwardly extending horizontal marking blocks d are formed at equaldistances apart, and correspond in number and have a relative position.to each of the three permanent fingers 39 on the wheel 39, when themachine is being used as a check-rower. The marking wheels D revolvewith the shaft 28 and are held in position by washers 42 or by similarmeans. I do not confine myself to the exact construction of the markingwheels D, since any equivalent marking mediums may be employed. Theshaft 28 is also rovided at each end between the marffing wheels D andthe seed boxes C, with traction wheels E. These traction wheels are fastupon the shaft 28, and each consists of a suitable hub, a felly 43 andspokes 44, together with a series of pointed extensions or fingers 45that extend sufficiently far beyond the felly to enter the ground as themachine is moved, and thus rotate the shaft 28. It may be here remarkedthat the peripheries of the marking wheels D have such relation to thesurface of the ground as to slightly touch and make an impressiontherein. The extensions or fingers 45 project through the fellies 43 ofthe traction wheels and are held to the spokes by clips or clamps 46, orthe equivalents of the same, as is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. A guard 47is located over each traction wheel E, said guards being secured attheir forward ends to the draft beam 27, and supported between theirends by braces 50 secured to the seed boxes C, as is shown in Figs. 1and 3, or to other convenient supports. At the rear end of each guard47, a downwardly extending member 48 is provided, having a slot 49through which the fingers 45 of the traction Wheels pass to clear themfrom substances adhering thereto, asis shown in Fig. 3.

With reference to the seed dropping mechanism, it is best shown in Figs.5, 6, 7 and 8, and is constructed as follows: A forwardlytapering andupwardly and forwardly-extending plate 51 is carried from the bed plate22, forming a rest for the rear or heel section of the pole or tongue25, as is shown in Fig. 4, and at a central point between the seed boxesC, a housing 52 in the form of a plate is transversely supported uponthe bed plate 22 by posts 53, of any desired type. About centrallywithin the space between said housing and bed plate, a short shaft orstud 54 is mounted to oscillate, and two oppositely-extending anddiametrically-located arms 55 and 56 are attached to or are madeintegral with the said shaft or stud 54. Springs 57 and 58 arerespectively secured to the outer end portions of the said arms 55 and56, which springs extend in opposite directions over the bed plate andare attached thereto. A connecting bar 59 is pivotally attached to thearm 56 and to the seed drop slide F of the right-hand seed box C, viewedfrom the front, as is shown in Fig. 7, and a second and correspondingconnecting bar 60 is similarly pivoted to the arm 55, and to the seeddrop slide F of the lefthand seed box 0, viewed from the front. Thesprings for the said arms 55 and 56 hold them normally in a position ofrest; that is to say, with the arm 56 for example, against an abutment62 formed upon or attached to the bed plate 22 beneath the housing 5 asis particularly shown in 7. The seed drop slides are simultaneouslyoperated to alternately receive and drop seed, by the successive contactof the fingers 39 of the escapement wheel 39, contacting with a trip arm61, that is attached to and extends from the short shaft, or oscillatingpost 54, about centrally between the slide operating arms 55 and 56, asis also shown best in Fig.7. The trip arm 61 is above the arms 55 and56, and extends at all times in the path of the escapement fingers,outside of the housing 52. The bed plate 22 is provided with openings63, one beneath the central portion of each seed box C, and immediatelybeneath each of said openings 63, the tubular shank of the customaryshoe or furrow opener 64 is secured to the bed plate, and receives theseed therefrom in suitable quantities to constitute a hill, and conductssaid seed to the ground. The seed drop slides, in their normal ordischarge position, have open seed pockets65 that register with thedischarge openings 63 in the bed plate 22, as is shown at the right in8; but in the outer or receiving positions of the seed drop slides F andF, their pockets 65 will register with preferably an elongated opening66 in a false bottom or metal plate.67, one of which is provided foreach seed box. These bottom plates are neatly fitted to the lowerportions of the seed boxes, and their upper marginal portions 69 slopedownward and inward, to facilitate the delivery of seed. The uniform yetsubstantially rapid movement of the seed. drop slides, tends to keep theseed in the boxes C in a suitable state of agitation, yet any form ofagitator common to planters may be provided for the boxes, if desired.The plates 67 are usually held in position by thumb screws 68, springinter-posing washers bearing on the plates and against the nuts, so thatthere will be no binding action of the plates against the seed dropslides. The shoes 64 are upturned at their forward ends in the customarymanner, and said upturned ends are attached to any convenient support,the draft bea n 27 for example, and in operation, the shoes 64 serve asthe main supports for the forward section B of the frame, and when saidsection is elevated, the shoes are carried upward with it. Blocks 70 arelocated at the front and the rear of each seed box, beneath the bottomplate 67 at each side of the seed delivery opening 63 in the box, as isshown in Fig. 6. The opposing edges 71 of these blocks are recessed toreceive corresponding side recessed portions 72 of the seed drop slidesand these blocks serve as guides and slidezrays for the slides.

When the machine is used as a drill, the wheels D and markers (Z areuseless and serve no purpose whatever. At the time when the planter isbeing constructed, the three .marking blocks (Z are so loeated tightlyupon the wheels D as to plainly mark the ground exactly opposite eachhill of grain as the same is dropped by the action of each of the threefingers 39, they one after the other come in contact with the trip arm61. The markers (Z always correctly register and mark the location ofeach hill of grain the same is dropped into the ground, but itfrequently happens that after turning the planter at the ends of thefield and when beginning to again cross the field, the markers (1 do notregister correctly, or coincide with the hills or marks made by themarkers d in the rows that have already been planted, in which event theposition of the wheels must be corrected or adjusted so that the markersd will register or coincide with the marks on the planted portion of thefield. This is done by moving the lever 36 rearward until the forwardsection B has been raised so that all parts of the traction wheels E andthe fingers clear the ground, and then by means of a hook 73 hung fromthe drivers seat, as is shown in Fig. 1, the traction Wheels E and themarking wheels D and wheel 39, are all turned together so that themarkers (1 will register and coincide with the marks that have alreadybeen made by the markers d on the other planted portions of the field,the bill of the hook being introduced in an aperture 41. in the top ofthe felly of the wheel 38, in which position the markers (Z may be movedbackward or forward by revolving the shaft 28.

A line marker 76 is provided at the rear of the machine and adapted toextend out at either side, since the shank 74 of said marker isconnected with a rotary support 75, at the central rear portion of therear frame A, and a stay 77, in the form of a cable or chain, isprovided for the shank, the forward end of which stay is removablysecured to an end of the draft beam 27 In the general operation of themachine, the marking wheels D having been properly set and the seedboxes supplied with seed, upon starting the machine forward the fingersor teeth of the traction wheels enter the ground, and said wheels aremadeto revolve and in turn revolve the shaft 28, whereupon the teeth 39'of the escapement wheel 39 act alternately upon the trip arm 61, movingthe actuating arms and 56 simultaneously in a direction to force theseed drop slides F outward, bringing their pockets in registry with theopenings in the bottom plate 67 of the seed boxes, causing said pocketsto be filled with seed, and as the trip arm 61 is released by theescapement wheel, the springs 57 and 58 act to return the actuating arms55 and 56 to their normal positions, and carry the pockets of the seeddrop slides in registry with the openings 63, leading to the shoes.whereupon the seeds are dropped -to the ground, the seeds in each pocketconstituting a hill.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a planter, a fore shoe-supported frame having at its rear endvertically slotted ears, a rear wheel-supported frame provided with ahorizontal shaft in its forward part and working loosely in the slottedears, and means carried by the wheel-supported frame and connected withthe rear end of the shoesupported frame for raising the latter.

2. In a planter, a fore shoe-supported frame, a rear wheel-supportedframe pivotally and slidably connected to the shoe-supported frame,drums carried by the wheel supported frame, cables secured to the drumsand to the shoe-supported frame, and means for operating the drums.

3. In a planter, a fore shoe-supported frame having at its rear endvertically slotted members, a rear wheel-supported frame having at itsforward end a horizontal shaft working loosely in the slotted members,drums carried by the wheel-supported frame, cables secured to the drumsand to the lower ends of the slotted members, and means for operatingsaid drums.

4. In a planter, a fore shoe-supported frame having at its rear endvertically slotted ears provided at their lower ends with aperturedlugs, a rear wheel-supported frame having in its front end a horizontalshaft working loosely in the slotted ears, a shaft mounted in thewheel-supported frame,

l drums on the shaft, chains secured to the drums and to the aperturedlugs of the ears, and a lever for operating the shaft carryng the drums.

5. In a planter, a horizontally jointed frame, comprising a rear and aforward section, a rotatory axle carried by the forward section of theframe between one extremity and the joint, grain feeding anddistributing devices carried by said forward section of the frame, meansfor operating the feeding and distributing devices from the said axle,marking and traction wheels also carried by the axle, shoes secured tothe forward section of the frame and connected with the grain feedingdevices, and a hoist cooperating with the joint and with the grainfeeding and distributing devices, for displacing the joint of the saidframe and elevating the marking and driving wheels and shoes.

6. In a planter, seed boxes, drop slides therefor, a traction controlledshaft, an escapement wheel upon said shaft, pivoted spring-controlledarms mounted to revolve, connections between said arms and said seeddrop slides, and means whereby the said arms are actuated and releasedby the said escapement wheel.

7. In planters, seed boxes, oppositely-extending spring-controlledactuating arms located between the boxes, a trip arm connected with andextending between the actuating arms, seed drop slides for the boxes,connections between the seed drop slides and the actuating arm, a shaft,means for driving the same, and an escapement wheel on said shaftadapted for engagement with the trip arm.

' 8. In planters, seed boxes, supports for the same, a shaft j ournaledin the boxes, traction means for rotating the shaft, seed drop slidesfor the boxes, tension-controlled rotating arms, a trip member connectedwith the arms, connections between the arms and the seed drop slides,and an escapement wheel for intermittently actuating the'said tripmember.

9. In planters, seed boxes, supports for the same, a shaft journaled insaid boxes, an escapement Wheel upon the shaft, traction means foroperating the shaft, connected oppositely-extending tension-controlledactuating arms mounted to oscillate hetween the boxes, seed drop slidesfor the boxes, connections hetween the arms and the seed drop slides,and a trip arm connected with the actuating arms for engagement by saidescapement wheel.

10. In a planter, seed hoxes, seed drop slides for the boxes, a springpressed three armed shaft oetween the seed boxes, a connection betweentwo of the arms and the drop slides, a driven shaft, and an escapementWheel on the shaft and engaging the third arm of the said shaft.

11. In a planter, seed boxes, seed drop slides for the boxes, a threearmed shaft between the seed boxes, springs having one end secured tothe ends of two of the arms and their other ends to a fixed support,bars connecting the said arms with the seed drop slides, a driven shaft,and an escapement on the shaft and engaging the third arm of the saidshaft.

12. In planters, a traction Wheel adapted to operate the seed supplyingand distributing mechanism, comprising a hub, a felly, spokes extendingfrom the hub to the felly, fingers passing through the felly andengaging the spokes, and clamping devices for the fingers.

13. In a planter, a traction wheel adapted to operate the seeddistributing mechanism, having fingers projecting from its felly, and aguard over the traction wheel, said guard having an inwardly extendingslotted memoer at one end, through which slot the fingers of thetraction wheels pass.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two supscrihing witnesses.

JAMES H. MoCOY. Witnesses:

LELAH K. MoCoY, II. F. MCCOY.

